Belt conveyer



April 21, 1931. 1 F. E. DHUMY ETAL 9 BELT CONVEYER Filed March 13. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l w. V 5' I f 32!, I i

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BELT CONVEYER Filed March 15. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 -Q. /:J I,,' I I u l HHII ill" April 21, 1931. F. E. DHUMY ET AL BELT CONVEYER Filed March 13. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I .nll h. 1

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April 21, 1931 F. E. DHUMY ETAL BELT CONVEYER Filed March 15, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 In 3wuewioa IE dlHumy April 21, 1931.

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BELT CONVEYER 4 Filed March 15. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 rran STATES PATENT err-ice FERNAND E. DHUMY; OF SCARSDALE, PAUL J. BIRKMEYER, OF LONG BEACH, NEW YORK,

1111) FRANCIS GRIFFITH, OF PASSAIC, NEXV JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO THE WES UNION TELEGRAPEI CC MFANY, OF NEN YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEXV YORK BELT CGNVEYER Application filed March 13, 1929. Serial No. 350,751.

This invention relates to conveyers and has special reference to a conveyor and transfer device for telegrams and the like. v

In the handling of telegrams and the like itis frequently desirable to use open topped or trough conveyers so arranged that the telegrams or other like articles may be held in an upright position sothat the addresses or other data may beread without removing the paper from the conveyor. Gonveyers on which the papers lie flat are not well adapted for such use on account of the liability of the loose sheetsbeing blown 05. It is also desirable to ha-ve'such conveyers constructed with the conveying beltor band so arranged. that the paper cannot be caught beneath or at the side of the belt and thus torn or wrinkled and the sections ofthe trough oined in such manner that catching, tearing or wrinkling of the paper at such ,points is eliminated. Further, it is frequently desired, in handling telegrams to have certain feeder runs of the conveyer system angularly disposed with reference to the main or cross run conveyor and to have the telegrams fed in from the feeders to the main conveyerwithout interfering with the passage of telegrams along the main conveyor so that special connections are necessary between the feeders and main conveyor. 7

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a novel and improved form of trough conveyer especially adaptedfor the conveyance of telegrams and the like; to construct the conveyer in such manner that the belt is prevented'from tearing or wrinkling the telegrams; to construct the joints of the conveyor sections in an improved manner so that such joints are smooth on their inner sides and present an unbroken surface; and to provide an improved connection between two such conveyers angularly disposed. 7

With the above and other objects in vie the invention will now be particularly de-- scribed and specifically claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a convey'er system constructed in accordance with this invention and including two conveyor runs at right angles to each other. Figure 2 1s a perspective view. of a portion of such a conveyer partly in section.

Figure 8 is a transverse section of such a conveyor on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 1s a perspectlve view of a joint between two sections. with the parts disassembled.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through such a joint.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross section through a preferred form of conveyer belt adapted for use herewith.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the connection between two runs of the conveyor system. 7 V

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Figure 8. I

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9. V

Figure 11 is a side-elevation of a take-up device for adjusting the tension on the belt.

Figure 12 is an end elevation taken on the line 1212 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the yoke which supports the end pulley at the take-up end.

Figure 14 is a perspective View of the hearing plate for the outer ends of the take-up bolts and nuts.

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional View through the conveyer trough at one of the vertical supports.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor constructed in accordance with this invention and showing a modified form of support for the return run of the conveyor.

Figure 17 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is an enlarged section on the line 18-18 of Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 16 but showing a further modification of the support for the return run of the conveyer.

Figure '20 is a section on the linel20-20 of Figure 19. I I

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the invention showing the trough in its usual form and in connection with a 1nodified form of conveyer belt.

Figure 22 is a cross section of the form of invention shown in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a view similar to Figure 21 but showing a modified form of trough as used with the conveyer belt of the type shown in Figure 18.

Figure 21 is a cross section through the modified form shown in Figure Figure 25 is a perspective View showing the arrangement used in passing from a horizontal to an inclined section of the conveyer.

Figure 26 is a side elevation of a' portion of Figure 25.

Figure 27 is an enlarged section on the line 2727 of Figure 25.

Each section of the individual conveyers in this system is provided with a base member 10 consisting of a channel iron having its flanges turned downwardly. To these flanges are secured the lower edge portions 11 of side plates, these portions extending perpendicularly above the channel. These side plates extend toward each other from the tops of the portions 11 to form belt edge covering flanges 12, from which these side plates extend upwardly and divergently to form conveyer trough sides 13 at the top of which are stiffening and supporting angles 14, having vertical depending legs and outwardly extending horizontal legs over which the side plates are extended outwardly as at 15 and bent around and under as at 16. There thus formed a narrow trough with flaring sides and having its bottom ope ,ing into a housing for a conveyer belt 17 provided with side flanges 18 housed beneath the overhanging side portions of the housing. Vith this arrangement the telegrams T, dropped in the trough, will be carried along in an up right position as shown and the lower parts of these telegrams are protected by the overhanging side portions of the housing from catching beneath the belt. At intervals this belt is provided with cross-strips or cleats which may lie wholly between the flanges as at 1-9, or may include an additional overlying strip which extends across the top of the flanges, as at 20.

S11 porting posts or standards P, which may e channel irons, are used to support these conveyors and each post is provided with a channel cap 21, on which the flange formed by the parts 15 and 16 of the respective side plate and the horizontal leg of the angle 14 between these parts rests. The down turned ends of the cap are first riveted to the flanges of the channel post and then the flanges 15 of the trough are riveted to the can, as at 22. This construction provides a, rigid support for the conveyer trough, without requiring the use of any rivets through the sides of the trough.

The upper reach of the belt forming the conveyer travels through the rectangular enclosure at the bottom of the trough and slides on the top of the channel bar 10 which forms the bottom wall of the enclosure. The lower reach or return of the belt is carried over rollers 23 rotatably mountedv between the channel bar supports below the trough.

Each conveyer belt is driven in any suitable manner, here typified by the pulley 31 and drive belt 32. Adjacent each end of a conveyer belt, the bottom wall 10 of the belt enclosure is discontinued and the belt passes around a pulley. At the driving end the pulley is carried by the shaft of the driving pulley. At the other end of the conveyer the belt passes around a pulley 40, carried in a yoke support 41, which is adjustable lengthwise of the pulley to form a take-up for adjusting the tension of the belt. The bottom of the yoke is clamped between a pair of 0ppositcly disposed clamping plates 43, which are provided with apertures 45 to receive a pair of bolts 46. By adjusting the nuts 47. the yoke and pulley may be moved in one direction or the other until the desired tension on the belt is obtained. The ends of the bolts are secured to plates 50 which are fastened between opposite posts. When the conveyer passes across the top of a table. the posts may be secured to the table by means of angle irons 51.

The conveyers are usually of such length that it is necessary to make them in sections which mav be readily assembled and when erected will be rigid and will present a smooth unobstructed path throughout the length of the channel or trough. The preferable meth- 0d of joining the sections is shown in Figures 4. 5 and 6, wherein it may be seen that one end of one section has the portions 15 and 16 and the top corner of the portion 13 of each side plate cut away to permit projection of the angles 14. the remainder 24 of each trough side portion 13 being offset outwardly. Likewise the bottom portions 11 are cut back as at 25 and the portions 12 are offset upwardly as at 26, the channel 10 terminating flush with the end edges of the angles 14. The abutting end of the adjacent section is constructed in the usual manner except that the angles 14. and channel 16 terminate short of the end edges of the side plates and when the section ends are brought together, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, this construction will present a smooth and even interior surface which neither interferes with the operation of the belt nor with the telegrams in their movement along the conveyer.

Where any such conveyer acts as a feeder to a conveyer at an angle to the feeder, the delivery end of the feeder is arranged above the level of the other conveyer, called for convenience the main conveyer, as shown in Figures 1 and 9. At this delivery end and to the outside thereof, there is secured a pair of side plates 27 and 28, one of which, 27, is perpendicular throughout and extends at its beginning in the direction of the feeder and is then curved and extended in the-direction of travel of the main conveyer belt along the edge of one side of the main conveyer, this plate forming the inner side wall of a transfer chute. The other plate, 28, lies parallel to the plate 27, at its beginning and like it curves to lie in the same direction but over the other edge of the main trough. This plate differs from the first, however, because it flares outwardly at the bend and atthe part extending along the main conveyer to form the outer side wall of the chute. The lower edges of the chute walls rest on the top edges of the main trough and at the rear these lower edge portions are formed with flaring guide tabs 29 for guiding the upper edges of telegrams passing along the main conveyer between the chute sides. Above these guide tabs 29, the chute is provided with an inclined floor or bottom 30, the upper en'd'of which lies in position to have the telegrams from the feeder pass freely thereon so that such telegrams may pass down along this floor and drop through the open or unfloored end of the chute onto the main conveyer belt.

In the form of conveyer illustrated in Figures 16, 17 and 18 the construction is very similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 but in place of the rollers 23 supporting the return run of the belt 17 there is employed between each pair of posts P a rest 52 having an arcuate upper surface over which the return run of the conveyer belt passes. This form is well adapted for use with the type of belt having sidefianges 18 as this belt slides readily over the arcuate upper surfaces of the supports 52. In the form shown in Figures 19 and 20 the posts P carry a channel member 53 arranged with its flanges directed upwardly so as to form a trough for the return run of the conveyer belt.

In certaininstances it is found that the side fiangesof the conveyer belt may well be omit ted but, when these flanges are omitted, it is advisable to make provision to prevent the bottom edges. of the papers getting between the belt and the portion ll of the trough. In such cases we preferably provide a widebelt 54, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the width of the belt being such that it extends entirely across the space between the portions 11 and also this belt carries cleats 55 extending from dge to edge of the belt 54:. As can be seen from Figure 22 this arrangement pract fi inhibits the movement of the lower edges of the telegrams into position along side of the belt.

Another arrangement which may be used for the purpose of preventing the lower edges of the telegrams from catching between the belt and the portions 11 is that disclosed in Figures 23 and 24 Where the trough is modiin the various figures. .belt is held from draggingon the portions fied so that the horizontal portions 12 are re placed by downwardly and inwardly directed portions 56 so that the lower edges of the sides 13 lie very closely above the cleats or cross pieces 19 and in fact these lower edges extend slightly below the top edgesof the longitudinal ribs 18 of the belt. 1 Otherwise the trough is identical with those previously shown and described and accordingly the same reference numerals have been used for the other parts.

It is desirable at times to arrange the conveyerso that it may carry the telegrams up or down an inclination and the arrangement for this purpose can be seen in Figures 25 to 27 inclusive. In these figures are disclosed the abutting ends of two conveyer sections 57 and 58, the details of which are substantially identical with the conveyer as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and accordingly are referred to by the same reference characfers. However, the conveyer 57 is shown as a horizontal conveyer and the conveyer 58 is inclined upwardly from its point of meeting or junction with'the conveyer 57. Obviously, under this condition the upper run of the belt 17 would tend to lift at the iunction of the two sections and would thus rub against the portions '12 of the conveyer trough and cause much wear to the belt.

Moreover, the smooth conveying of the telegrams at this point would be interrupted. In order to provide for proper passage of the belt 17 from horizontal to inclined position the posts on the section 57 are connected to the posts on the section 58 by channel bars 59 which support bearings 60 wherein are journaled stub shafts 61 carrying disks 62, the shafts being inclined so that the disks 62 run parallel to the trough sides 13. Moreover, the portions 12 and 11 of the troughs of these sections are cut away as at '63 so that the lower parts of the disks 62 may pass below thelevel of the bottom edges of the trough sides 13 and thus engage the longitudinal ribs 18 of the belt 17 as clearly shown By this means the 12 while at the same time it is freely movable and is, kept under propertension.

In use telegrams are simply dropped into the conveyer with theirheadings uppermost and facing inthe desired direction. They Will'then travel along the system being removed at any desired point along the way or being allowed to remain until they reach the delivery end of the system where they may be received in any convenient receptacle after passing 01f the conveyer belt. If a telegraphblank should be held in thechannel for any cause, such as static or roughness, it can only remain for an instant until it is engaged by one of the cross strips or cleats 20, which will thereafter push it to the end of the conveyer. These cleats are disposed at suitable distances along the belt.

The construction of the trough with outwardly inclined sides, the bottom edges overhanging the enclosed housing or channel for the traveling belt ensures the transmission of the message blanks without any danger of delay or mutilation. Moreover, the blanks are maintained throughout their travel on edge in an upright position. Our meth- 0d of transferring the blanks from one conveyer to another also maintains the blanks in edgewise upright position so that they may always be discharged in the same mannet.

We have described in detail the construc tion illustrated in the drawings for tho purpose of clearly disclosing the invention but it will be evident to engineers that various changes may be made in the structural features while still embodying the essentials of the invention.

What is claimed, is

1. A conveyer having a trough open at the bottom, a housing beneath the trough wider than the trough bottom to project on each side thereof and opening centrally of its top to said trough, a conveyer belt traveling in said housing and having a greater width than the trough bottom whereby the side edges of the belt are housed in the projecting side portions of the housing, the upper side edges of the trough being extended into laterally projecting flanges, and longitudinally extending reinforcing angles fitted within and conforming to said flanges and secured thereto.

2. A conveyer having a trough open at the bottom, a housing beneath the trough wider than the trough bottom to project on each side thereof and opening centrally of its top to said trough, a conveyer belt traveling in said housing and having a greater .width than the trough bottom whereby the side edges of the belt are housed in the projecting side portions of the housing, the upper side edges of the trough being extended into laterally projecting flanges, longitudinally extending reinforcing angles fitted within and conforming to said flanges and secured thereto, and supports for said trough terminating beneath said flanges and having the flanges and angles secured thereto.

3. In a conveyer, a base member consisting of a channel having a horizontal web and depending flanges, side plates having their lower edge portions secured to the outer sides of said channel flanges and projecting thereabove to form housing sides, said. side plates being bent inwardly to overlie the channel at its sides and then bent up- Wardly to form trough sides flaring upwardly, the plates being bent outwardly at the upper edges of the trough sides to form flanges, and angles fitted within and conforming to said flanges and secured thereto.

4:. In a conveyor, alined sections each inclu ding a base member consisting of a channel having a horizontal web and depending es, side plates having their lower edge 'tions secured to the outer sides of said es and projecting thereabove to rin housing sides, sai l side plates being bent inwartly to overlie the channel at its si es and then bent upi ardly to form trough sic. g' upwardly, the plates being bent outwarlly a; the upper edges of the trough sides to form fla ges, and angles fitted within and secured to said plate flanges, the plate flanges and the upper corners of the trough sides at one end of each. section being cut away to permit projection of the angles, the remainder of the trough sides at said end being offset eutwa rdly, the housing side portions the plates being also cut away at said end to permit projection of the channel, the housing top portions being offset upwardly, the adjacent section having its angles and channels tern'iinating short of the side plates at its coacting end and abutting the angles and channel of the first section. the offset portions of the side plates of the first section fitg against the corresponding portions of the side plates of the second section.

In a conveyer system, a main conveyer, a feeder conveyer, each of said conveyors consisting of a narrow upper trough portion open at its bottom and a belt traveling longitudinally of the trough below said bottom; said feeder having its delivery end above the level of the main conveyer, a chute leading from the feeder and curved laterally to lie over the main conveyer and extend in the direction of travel of the main conveyer bolt, the upper end of the chute having a floor inclined downwardly from the feeder toward the main conveyer and terminating in spaced relation to the top of the main conveyer. the remainder of the chute being open at its bottom above said main conveyer. and rearwar-dly extending guide tabs flaring outwardly from the rear end of the open bottom portion of the chute to guide articles traveling on the main conveyer into the space between the chute walls.

6. In a conveyer system, a main conveyer, a feeder conveyer, each of said conveyors consisting of a narrow upper trough portion open at its bottom, a housing below said trough open at its top to afford communicati on with the trough and extending laterally on each side beyond the trough sides, and a conveyer belt traveling in said housin said feeder having its delivery end above the level of the main conveyer, and a chute leading from the feeder and curved laterally to lie over the main conveyer and extend in the direction of travel of the main conveyer belt, the upper end of the chute having a floor inclined downwardly from the feeder toward poi 'innel lai the main conveyer and terminating in spaced relation to the top of the main conveyer, the remainder of the chute being open at its bottom above said main conveyer.

7. In a conveyer system, a main conveyer, a feeder conveyer, each of said conveyers consisting of a narrow upper trough portion open at its bottom, a housing below said trough open at its top to afiord communication with the trough and extending laterally on each side beyond the trough sides, and a conveyer belt traveling in said housing; said feeder having its delivery end above the level of the main conveyer, a chute leading from the feeder and curved laterally to lie over the main conveyer and extend in the direction of travel of the main conveyer belt, the upper end of the chute having a floor inclined downwardly from the feeder toward the main conveyer and terminating in spaced relation to the top of the main conveyer, the remainder, of the chute being open at its bottom above said main convey-er, and rearwardly extending guide tabs flaring outwardly from the rear end of the open bottom portion of the chute to guide articles traveling on the main conveyer into the space between the chute walls.

8. In a conveyer system for sheet material, a main conveyer, a feeder conveyer, each of said conveyers comprising a narrow upper trough portion open at its bottom and a belt traveling longitudinally of the trough below said bottom whereby said sheet material will be conveyed in a substantially vertical position; said feeder having its delivery end above the level of the main conveyer, and a chute leading from the feeder and curved laterally to lie over the main conveyer, the upper end of the chute having a floor inclined downwardly from the feeder toward the main conveyer and terminating in spaced relation to the top of the main'conveyer, the remainder of the chute being open at its bottom above said main conveyer and extending a substantial distance beyond said bottom to permit said sheet material to drop into said main conveyer while maintaining it in a substantially vertical position.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

FERNAND E. DHUMY. PAUL J. BIRKMEYER. FRANCIS GRIFFITH. 

